The Supreme Court has held the Indian Air Force and the Army liable to pay ₹ 1.54 crore in compensation to an Air veteran, who was infected with HIV virus through a blood transfusion done at a field hospital while on deployment at the border during ‘Operation Parakram’ in 2001.
Lacking in compassion
“When a young person, from either sex (as is now a days the case) enrols or joins any Armed Forces, their expectation is to be treated with dignity and honour. The present case has demonstrated again and again how dignity, honour and compassion towards the appellant (veteran) were completely lacking in the employer’s behaviour. Repeatedly the record displays a sense of disdain, and discrimination, even a hint of stigma, attached to the appellant, in the attitude of the respondent employer,” a Bench headed by Justice S. Ravindra Bhat said while chastising the government in their judgment published on Wednesday.
